Written by
Sabina
You might know Clematis as a climbing plant in the garden, but craftsmanship and years of development by Marginpar have made certain varieties suitable as cut flowers for the vase. Marginpar grows its Clematis Amazing® range in open fields in Tanzania. A field full of flowering Clematis with Kilimanjaro in the background is, of course, a beautiful sight, but the story behind it makes the flower even more fascinating. Read on!
About Marginpar
What began in 1988 as an adventurous idea by Dutch duo Jill and Bate Koning has grown into a unique, innovative international business. Marginpar is a pioneer in growing the most exceptional summer flowers, including Clematis Amazing®. Marginpar has 16 FSI-compliant* growing sites across 4 African countries: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Collaboration, innovation, sustainability and the development of its dedicated people are at the heart of the business.
Craftsmanship comes first
For a naturally climbing plant to end up in a vase as a cut flower takes years of selection, cross-breeding, testing and refinement. Of around 120 varieties in the trial field, only a handful made it through the rigorous selection process. Craftsmanship and the people behind the flowers play a vital role in this process. Dutch expertise in breeding was combined with the experience of the Tanzanian teams.
Craftsmanship is just as important during cultivation. The Clematis plants are cared for daily and closely monitored. Biological crop protection is increasingly used, with natural pest control provided by predatory mites, parasitic wasps, fungi and bacteria. This calls for plenty of knowledge, care and fine-tuning. After harvesting, the flowers travel to the Netherlands. Through wholesalers, these special blooms find their way to florists and vases all over the world.
Helping people grow
‘We grow our people, our people grow flowers’. Guided by this belief, Marginpar invests not only in flowers, but above all in the people who grow them and the communities they live in. One example is the Marginpar Foundation, which is working on projects including 3 childcare centres at its 3 farms in Tanzania. This gives people the opportunity to work and develop their skills.
We grow our people, our people grow flowers.
Discover more growers’ stories
Curious to hear more stories from flower and plant growers? Read how craftsmanship has helped Maatschap Van der Linden en Zoon grow hundreds of colourful Dahlia varieties for generations. Or discover where IKEA’s Monsteras come from and watch the video about VDE plant’s clever water system.
*FSI-compliant
This means the business meets recognised standards for responsible cultivation and good growing practices, environmental impact, working conditions and social responsibility.
